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Aug. 9, 2002--Dawn Hill, former head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University and an All-American player at Old Dominion University, has been named assistant field hockey coach at the University of Delaware, head coach Carol Miller announced Thursday, Aug. 8.
Hill, who served as head coach at VCU the previous five seasons, replaces Val Coyle, who announced her resignation in July after four seasons on the Blue Hen staff.
“Dawn is an outstanding addition to our coaching staff and program,” Miller, who will begin her 10th season as head coach of the Blue Hens this fall, said. “We are extremely fortunate to have secured her for this position. Her experience as an extremely talented player in an elite program, and her tenure as both an assistant and head coach at the Division I level speaks for itself.
“Dawn possesses an in-depth knowledge of the game, experience as a distinguished player at the collegiate and U.S. team level, and a personality that I have come to know as patient, intense and confident, all of which will allow her to compliment our program and University and provide the student-athletes a wonderful experience.”
A four-year standout at Old Dominion, Hill led the Monarchs to three straight national titles in 1982-84 and a second place national finish in 1985 when she earned All-American honors. The team compiled an incredible mark of 82-9 during her four years with the team. She was also a member of the U.S. National Team in 1989-90 after four years on the U.S. Reserve National team. In addition, she competed at the U.S. Olympic Festival five times, earning one gold medal and three silver medals, and one bronze medal. She was inducted into the Old Dominion Hall of Fame in 1992.
After coaching two years at the high school level, Hall began her college coaching career as an assistant coach at Old Dominion in 1988-91, leading ODU to national titles in 1988 and 1990 and a second place finish in 1989.
She became interim head coach at the University of Maryland for the 1991-92 season, leading the Terrapins to a 17-5-1 record and a third place national finish. For her efforts at Maryland, she was named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year and College Field Hockey Coaches Association National Coach of the Year.
She took over the interim position in place of former University of Delaware All-American Missy Meharg, who had taken one year off to pursue a spot on the U.S. National Team.
Hill returned to ODU as an assistant coach from 1992-97, helping the Monarchs win another national title in 1992. In 1997, she took over a VCU program that had won just six games the previous two years combined. After a 2-18 record her first season, she led the squad to an 8-12 mark in 1998. Her five-year record of VCU was 36-65-1, and her overall six-year mark as a head coach is 53-70-1.
In addition to her collegiate coaching career, Hill served as assistant coach with the U.S. National Field Hockey Team in 1990-92 and was head coach of the U.S. National Under-21 Team in 1992.
A 1987 graduate of Old Dominion with a degree in health and physical education, Hill completed graduate classes while at ODU with an emphasis in exercise science and wellness. She has cowritten three different pieces on that topic that have appeared in various publications.
The Blue Hens, who will begin pre-season camp Aug. 14, are coming off a solid 2001 campaign that saw the team post a 13-8 record and advance to the America East conference title game. Delaware will begin its first season as members of the Colonial Athletic Association this fall.
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